ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at social stratification, a feature of social organization that has preoccupied sociologists. So social difference and social organization can be explained by reference to social class. It is conjecture that the explanatory function of the Castle and Gate theory of class explains why one operate with this theory: it functions to explain aspects of the society. The first thesis will be that the common sense or Castle and Gate theory of a system of social classes does not explain those facts it is supposed to: it does not provide a satisfactory account of why existing social differences occur. The second is a misdirection of effort to try to rectify the Castle and Gate theory of class. The third and last thesis is that it will be more profitable to study, explain and refute prevalent Castle and Gate ideas about classes than to make further attempts to modify them.
